Calibrachoa plant named ‘Balcabscar’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Calibrachoa  plant named ‘Balcabscar’ characterized by its scarlet red-colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage, floriferousness, and moderately vigorous, mounded-trailing growth habit.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Calibrachoa×hybrida.

Variety denomination: ‘Balcabscar’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofCalibrachoa plant botanically known as Calibrachoa×hybrida andhereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Balcabscar’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in Elburn,Ill. during September 2002. The objective of the breeding program wasthe development of Calibrachoa cultivars with attractive flowercoloration, medium green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous,mounded-trailing growth habit.

The female (seed) parent of the new cultivar was the proprietaryCalibrachoa×hybrida breeding selection designated 2043-2, not patented,characterized by its scarlet red-colored flowers and semi-upright growthhabit. The male (pollen) parent of the new cultivar was the proprietaryCalibrachoa×hybrida breeding selection designated 1032-2, not patented,characterized by its cherry red-colored flowers and semi-upright growthhabit. The new Calibrochoa was discovered and selected by the inventoras a single flowering plant within the progeny of the above statedcross-pollination during May 2003 in a controlled environment at Elburn,Ill.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings sinceMay 2003 at Elburn, Ill. and West Chicago, Ill. has demonstrated thatthe new cultivar reproduces true to type with all characteristics, asherein described, firmly fixed and retained through successivegenerations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedlyobserved and can be used to distinguish, ‘Balcabscar’ as a new anddistinct cultivar of Calibrachoa plant:

-   -   1. Scarlet red-colored flowers;    -   2. Medium green-colored foliage;    -   3. Floriferousness; and    -   4. Moderately vigorous, mounded-trailing growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parentprimarily in growth habit and from plants of the male parent primarilyin flower color and growth habit.

Of the many commercially available Calibrachoa cultivars known to theinventor, the most similar in comparison to the new cultivar is‘Sunbelre’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,756. However, in side by sidecomparisons, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of ‘Sunbelre’in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar are more compact than plants of        ‘Sunbelre’; and    -   2. Plants of the new cultivar have smaller leaves than plants of        ‘Sunbelre’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typicalflower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in thephotographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detaileddescription, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Balcabscar’. Theplants were grown in 10 cm pots for 9 weeks in a greenhouse at WestChicago, Ill.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habitof ‘Balcabscar’.

FIG. 2 illustrated a close-up view of two individual flowers of‘Balcabscar’ showing the change in color as the flower matures. Theflower on the left is just open; the flower on the right is fully open.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype mayvary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature,light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance ingenotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is TheR.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England,2001 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significanceare used. The color values were determined on Jul. 25, 2005 between 3:00p.m. and 4:00 p.m. under natural light conditions, in West Chicago, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe plants producedfrom cuttings taken from stock plants and grown in a doublepolycarbonate-covered greenhouse under conditions comparable to thoseused in commercial practice. The plants were grown at West Chicago, Ill.in 10 cm pots for 9 weeks utilizing a soilless growth medium. Greenhousetemperatures were maintained at approximately 70° F. to 75° F. (21° C.to 24° C.) during the day and approximately 50° F. to 58° F. (10° C. to14° C.) during the night. Greenhouse light levels of 5,000 to 8,000footcandles were maintained during the day.

-   Botanical classification: Calibrachoa×hybrida cultivar Balcabscar.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary Calibrachoa×hybrida breeding            selection designated 2043-2, not patented.        -   Male parent.—Proprietary Calabrachoa×hybrida breeding            selection designated 1032-2, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.        -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 6 to 8 days.        -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 21 to 28            days.        -   Root description.—Fibrous.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching.-   Plant description:    -   -   Crop time.—Approximately 6 to 9 weeks from a rooted cutting.        -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Moderately vigorous,            mounded-trailing.        -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:            Approximately 9.8 cm. Width: Approximately 53.6 cm.        -   Branching habit.—Freely basal branching. Approximately 6            main branches per plant, with lateral branches forming at            very node.        -   Branch.—Strength: Moderate. Length: Approximately 25.1 cm.            Diameter: Approximately 2.9 mm. Texture: Densely pubescent.            Color: 145B at apex with 187A at base. Internode length at            center of branch: Approximately 1.5 cm.        -   Foliage.—Number of leaves per main branch: Approximately 31.            Fragrance: None. Form: Simple. Arrangement on flowering            stem: Opposite. Aspect: Obtuse angle. Shape: Elliptic.            Margin: Entire. Apex: Acute. Base: Attenuate. Venation            pattern: Pinnate. Length of mature leaf: Approximately            2.9 cm. Width of mature leaf: Approximately 6.9 mm. Texture            of upper and lower surfaces: Glabrous. Color of upper            surface of mature foliage: 137A with venation of 145A. Color            of lower surface of mature foliage: 137C with venation of            145A. Petiole Length: 3.0 mm. Petiole diameter: 2.0 mm.            Petiole texture: Densely pubescent. Petiole color: 145A.-   Flowering description:    -   -   Flowering habit.—‘Balcabscar’ is freely flowering under            outdoor growing conditions with substantially continuous            blooming from spring through autumn and year round in            greenhouse environment.        -   Time to first flower.—Approximately 10.5 weeks from sticking            of unrooted cutting.        -   Lastingness of individual bloom.—Approximately 5 days.-   Flower description:    -   -   Type.—Single, salverform. Quantity per plant: Approximately            185.        -   Bud rate of opening.—Generally takes 4 to 6 days for bud to            progress from first color to fully open flower.        -   Bud just before opening.—Shape: Ovate. Length: Approximately            1.9 cm. Diameter: Approximately 4.2 mm. Texture:            Glandular-pubescent. Color: petals 61A, corolla tube 160A            with venation of 166A.        -   Corolla.—Diameter: Approximately 2.6 cm.        -   Petals.—Quantity: 5, fused to form a tube. Shape: Obovate.            Apex: Obtuse almost truncate. Margin: Entire. Texture of            upper and lower surfaces: Glabrous. Petal length from tube:            Approximately 1.3 cm. Petal length of free portion:            Approximately 6.3 mm. Petal width: Approximately 1.3 cm.            Color of upper surface when first open: Between 53B and 53C            with venation of 166A. Color of upper surface when fully            open: Between 45B and 45C with venation of 166A. Color of            lower surface when first open: 54A with venation of 166A.            Color of lower surface when fully open: Between 54A and 54B            with venation of 166A.        -   Corolla tube.—Length: Approximately 1.9 cm. Diameter at            distal end: Approximately 7.6 mm. Diameter at proximal end:            Approximately 2.0 mm. Tube texture inner surface: Glabrous.            Tube texture outer surface: Glandular pubescent. Color inner            surface: 15A with venation of 166A. Color of outer surface:            12C with venation of 166A.        -   Peduncle.—Strength: Strong. Aspect: At acute angle to stem            to slightly curving. Length: Approximately 1.7 cm. Diameter:            Approximately 0.8 mm. Texture: Pubescent. Color: 144B.        -   Calyx.—Width: Approximately 1.1 cm.        -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: 5 fused along lower half.            Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Acuminate. Margin: Entire. Sepal            length: Approximately 1.2 cm. Sepal width: Approximately            2.4 mm. Texture of upper surface: Densely pubescent with            very short hairs. Texture of lower surface: Glandular            pubescent. Color of upper and lower surfaces: 143A at apex            gradually transitioning to 144C at base.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity: 5 fused to            inside of corolla tube. Stamen length: 1.2 cm. Filament            length of free portion: Approximately 1.1 cm. Filament            color: 144D. Anther shape: Oval, bilobed. Anther length:            Approximately 0.5 mm. Anther color: 21B. Pollen amount:            Moderate. Pollen color: 11A. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity: One            per flower. Pistil length: Approximately 1.1 cm. Stigma            shape: Funnel. Stigma length: Approximately 4.0 mm. Stigma            color: N144D. Style length: Approximately 5.0 mm. Style            color: 144D. Ovary diameter: Approximately 2.0 mm. Ovary            color: N144D.-   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has    been observed.-   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests    common to Calibrachoa has not been observed.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa plant named ‘Balcabscar’,substantially as herein shown and described.